The Federal Government recently created a new annual federal statutory holiday on September 30th called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The statutory holiday was created in response to call to action number 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which called on “the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a paid holiday for employees working at federal undertakings. It does not apply to organizations, like Pushor Mitchell LLP, that are subject to provincial employment standards laws. However, our firm believes it is important to recognize and commemorate the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to honour their survivors, their families and communities. As a result, we will be closing our office on September 30th in observance of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and providing time for our lawyers and staff to commemorate the legacy of residential schools and to honour survivors and their families.
Should you require our legal services on September 30th, we kindly ask that you make arrangements with our office.
For more information on the call for reconciliation and the history and legacy of residential schools, we encourage you to read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, which can be accessed here.